CHICAGO (Sept. 17, 2002) -- U.S. Women's National Team head coach April
Heinrichs has named 28 players to train for four days in Long Island, N.Y.,
before the USA opens the 2002 Nike U.S. Women's Cup against Russia at the
Mitchel Athletic Complex on Sept. 29 at 4 p.m. ET in a match presented by
Philips Electronics.
The training will serve a dual purpose for Heinrichs, who will choose 18
players to represent the USA in the tournament, but will also be using the
time to evaluate her pool in preparation for the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold
Cup, which will serve as the USA's qualification tournament for the 2003
Women's World Cup in China. The Women's Gold Cup, which also serves as the
regional championship, will be held from Oct. 27-Nov. 9, 2002 at four venues
on the west coast of the United States and Canada.
Following the Nike U.S. Women's Cup opener against Russia at the home
field of the New York Power, the USA will travel to Cary, N.C., to play two
matches at the new SAS Park, home of the WUSA champion Carolina Courage. The
American women face Australia on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET live on ESPN2 and
then finish the tournament against Italy on Oct. 6 at 2 p.m. ET in a match
also broadcast live on ESPN2. The tournament concludes with one more match
in Cary, N.C. as Italy takes on Australia on Oct. 9. The U.S. has amassed a
21-0-0 record across the eight U.S. Women's Cups, winning seven championships
(last year's tournament was canceled after the events of Sept. 11) against
many of the top teams in the world.
Heinrichs has spoken often about blending the U.S veterans, the young
professionals from the WUSA and the up-and-coming young stars of the future,
and this roster is representative of that philosophy. Heinrichs called in 23
WUSA players, including 12 players with 75 or more caps, but also named 10
WUSA players with 32 or less caps. Heinrichs named four college players,
including defender Cat Reddick of UNC and midfielder Aly Wagner of Santa
Clara. In addition, Heinrichs named three stars from the USA's 2002 Under-19
World Championship team in midfielder Lori Chalupny and forward Lindsay
Tarpley of UNC as well as high school senior Heather O'Reilly.
Chalupny, a freshman at UNC, was perhaps the USA's best player at the
recent FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship in Canada as the young Americans
defeated the hosts, 1-0, in the final on Sept. 1. O'Reilly was dominating
during the entire tournament, scoring four goals with seven assists and was
named to FIFA's All-Tournament Team. Tarpley, a freshman at UNC who has
already scored five goals this season for the Heels, captained the USA to the
world title, scoring six goals with five assists. Her final goal was perhaps
one of the most important and dramatic in U.S. Women's National Team history.
In overtime of the championship game, Tarpley pounded in a rebound of her
own shot to score a 109th minute "golden goal" in front of 48,000 screaming
Canadians at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, giving the USA the historic
first-ever world title for youth women. Tarpley, the only uncapped player on
the roster, was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Heinrichs has called in 20 of the 24 players who were in Columbus, Ohio,
for the USA's last match, an 8-2 win over Scotland on Sept. 8, including the
Washington Freedom forward tandem of Mia Hamm and Abby Wambach, the 2002 WUSA
Rookie of the Year. The two combined for six goals and four assists against
Scotland as Hamm upped her international goal record to 133 while Wambach
notched her first career hat trick and now has four goals in her four caps.
Defender Joy Fawcett returns after missing the Scotland match due to a
prior commitment, but forward Tiffeny Milbrett will sit out the NIKE U.S.
Women's Cup as she is still recuperating from the long WUSA season.
Defender Danielle Slaton, the youngest member of the 2000 Olympic Team and
the 2002 WUSA Defender of the Year, also returns after missing the last two
events to rest an injured knee.
With goalkeeper Hope Solo, the starter against Scotland, back playing her
senior season with the Washington Huskies, Jaime Pagliarulo was called up to
join Briana Scurry, LaKeysia Beene and Siri Mullinix as the four 'keepers in
camp.
Tickets for the tournament opener against Russia, which is presented by
Philips Electronics, range in price from $22 to $55 and are available at all
Ticketmaster outlets throughout the area (including The Wiz, Compact Disc
World, Tower Records, HMV Record Stores and Filene's) or by calling
631-888-9000 (Long Island) or 212-307-7171 (New York City). Tickets are also
available on-line at www.ticketmaster.com and at www.ussoccer.com. Groups of
20 or more can call the New York Power at 866-769-7849.
For the matches in Cary, N.C., against Australia on Wednesday, Oct. 2
(presented by Avaya) and Italy on Saturday, Oct. 6 (presented by Chevy)
tickets range from $18 to $55, and are available at all Ticketmaster outlets
throughout the Carolinas (including Kroger, Hecht's and FYE), by calling
919-834-4000 or going on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. For groups of 20 or
more, call 312-528-1249.
2002 NIKE U.S. WOMEN'S CUP SCHEDULE
Sun., Sept. 29, 2002
USA vs. Russia
Mitchel Athletic Complex
Uniondale, N.Y.
4 p.m. ET / TV TBD
Wed., Oct. 2, 2002
SAS Park
Cary, N.C.
Italy vs. Russia 5 p.m. ET
USA vs. Australia 7:30 p.m. E/espn2
Sun., Oct. 6, 2002
SAS Park
Cary, N.C.
Australia vs. Russia 11:30 a.m. ET
USA vs. Italy 2 p.m. ET / espn2
Wed., Oct. 9, 2002
SAS Park
Cary, N.C.
Australia vs. Italy
7:30 p.m. ET
Copyright © 2002, mysoccer.com